CH run through Navy’s wall to claim narrow win

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CH & FC managed to secure their third win of the season beating Navy SC 27 points to 24 in a thrilling encounter of the Dialog Club Rugby League at Racecourse earlier today.

Thilina Weerasinghe of Navy kick-started the game in windy conditions but CH showed some good momentum from the very 1st play. The Maitland Crescent boys worked their way into the Navy 22′ but unfortunately conceded a penalty, giving the Sailors an opportunity to get out of jail. Samuel Maduwantha missed an easy opportunity to put the CH boys 3 points ahead in the 6th minute but so did Thilina Weerasinghe, when he missed a penalty in the 11th minute as both teams remained scoreless early on in the game.

Yoshitha Rajapakshe drew first blood for CH when he scored in the 18th minute, after the forwards drove their way forward in a strong maul. Maduwantha made no mistake with his kick this time around and added the extras. The young fly-half extended CH’s lead by another 3 points when he bisected the posts with an unexpected drop goal in the 22nd minute. (10-0)

However, CH’s 10-point lead was cut down to only 3 points when Dulanjana Wijesinghe barged his way through to the try line to score Navy’s first try in the 25th minute. Weerasinghe bisected the posts successfully to bring the scores to 10-7.

The sailors had another opportunity to score right from the restart, but Mushin Faleel knocked the ball on, with the try line within reach. Fortunately for Navy, in the 33rd minute Buddhima Piyarathna scored in the right flank as a result of a penalty CH conceded inside their own 5-meter line. Weerasinghe failed to add the extras. (10 – 12)

Half Time : CH 10 (1T, 1C, 1DG) – 12 (2T, 1C) Navy

CH had an opportunity to take the lead as Navy conceded a penalty at the start of the second half but couldn’t capitalize. However, they went ahead five minutes later when Sasanka Ariyarathna scored in the right corner after picking the ball up and making a good run. Maduwantha made no mistake and added the extra two. (17 – 12)

In the 55th minute, the Sailors gained a numerical advantage when CH hooker Nisal Deshatha was sent off to the sin bin in for a late tackle but CH still managed to extend their lead by another seven points when young Maduwantha converted his own try in the 61st minute. (24 – 12)

Navy fought their way back from the restart and found themselves inside CH territory. The Sailors held on to possession and Thanuja Malimbada managed to score in the 66th minute, narrowing CH’s lead to seven points as Thilina Weerasinghe missed the conversion once more. (24 – 17)

CH gained the numerical advantage in the 69th minute when Navy skipper Danushka Perera was yellow carded for a high tackle and Maduwantha successfully converted the penalty to points when he bisected the post, adding another three points to CH’s total. (27 – 17)

With five minutes remaining in the game CH lock Matheesha Sarathchandra was sent off to the sin bin as Mohammed Absal of Navy took a quick tap and stepped his way, beating three defenders to score a fabulous try. Weearsinghe made no mistake, narrowing the gap to just 3 points. (27-24)

The game turned out to be an intense affair in the last minute of the game as the Sailors were awarded two penalties with the opportunity to counter and score. But unfortunately, Navy knocked the ball on, ending the game and giving CH their 3rd win of the season.

Full Time : CH & FC 27 (3T, 1P, 1DG, 3C) – 24 (4T, 2C) Navy SC

ThePapare.com’s Player of the Match: Sasanka Ariyarathna

Points Breakdown – Navy
Tries : Mohammed Absal, Buddhima Piyarathne, Dulanjana Wijesinghe, Thanuja Malimbada
Conversions : Thilina Wijesinghe (2)
Bookings : Danushka Perera

Points Breakdown – CH
Tries : Yoshitha Rajapakshe, Sasanka Ariyarathna,  Samuel Maduwantha
Conversions : Samuel Maduwantha (3)
Penalties : Samuel Maduwantha (1)
Drop goals : Samuel Maduwantha (1)
Bookings : Matheesha Sarathchandra